Scientific Family
Hydrophyllaceae
Other common names
pedicellate scorpion-weed
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
6 to 20 inches
Riparian
No
Plant forms dense clusters of pink to blue or white flowers; the upper portion of the stem branches several times into short spikes; each segment contains a dozen or more blooms; flowers emit a bad scent.
Few, erect stems; openly branched above base; surfaces covered with short, stiff, glandular hairs; ovate to round leaves; lower blades compound; upper blades lobed to compound; 1-sided, curving or coiling flower head; capsule fruit.
Habitat
Found in dry, sandy or gravelly washes, slopes, and canyons.
Plant Community
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
1000
High elevation
3500
Flower Characteristics
Bell-shaped flowers; five 1/4 to 1/2 inch lobes around a center of 5 stamens topped by white anthers; 1-sided, coiled, and densely grouped on thread-like stalks with long-hairy surfaces; not glandular.
Flower color
Pink to blue or white
Flower shape
Bell-shaped
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
May
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves and stems glandular, covered in short brownish hairs; oval to round, 3/4 to 4-3/4 inches in diameter; lower blades compound; 3 to 7 rounded or toothed leaflets; upper blades lobed to compound; 3 rounded segments; blades smaller going up stem.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Rounded to oval, 1/8 inch long; soft, hairy surfaces.
Fruit type
Capsule
Generally 4 seeds, each about 1/8 inch long; lower surfaces pitted; upper surfaces have central ridge separating 2 longitudinal grooves.